"Our world is a conflicted, stress-filled place. On 'Seeking Utopia' you'll find images and words of beauty that will surely make you think, lift your spirits, give you hope, or even bring a smile."

Monday, April 30, 2007

THE SECULAR STATE? GUARANTEED!

There is great commotion in Turkey currently with protests from some of its citizens about an attempt by Islamists to introduce religion into the secular state. Heaven forbid! All of Europe is up in arms and there are threats to stop Turkey from joining the E.U. What a storm in a teacup!

In America, that secular land of the free and the home of the brave, the great dictator President George W Bush, a man who puts Castro to shame, a man who is the most powerful person in the cosmos, the creme de la creme of despots, a man who governs absolutely even though the Democrats hold both Houses, has managed to fuse religion and the secular state into one without really trying, without anyone even noticing!

Saint George (shown above thanks to Google Images) as He will eventually be called, has brought His born-again religious convictions with Him to the White House. Hallelujah! He has infused every warmongering, depleted uranium-using, civilian-slaughtering, oil-grabbing policy of His Administration with pious religious overtones. The Holy Ghost walks every corridor of the W.H. along with most of the world's religious-right Fundamentalists, Praise the Lord! Prayer meetings laced with fervour are as common as treachery, share transactions, contract-awarding to Halliburton, and invasion-planning in the Oval Office. There is even a special physiotherapist who tends to those that find prolonged prayer-filled bowing creates back and knee problems.

Some of the W.H. staff complain that their eyes are closed so often in prayer they tend to stick together. The maintenance staff at the W.H. are worried that the air-conditioners cannot handle the amount of exhortations that daily fill each room, exhortations like, "May you guide our nuclear missiles unerringly to their nuclear facilities, Oh Lord, so that they vapourise uncountable numbers of Thine enemies, the camel-riding, Iranian heathens," and, "Help us, Oh God, to secure enough oil to keep our blessed turbo-charged, 4WDs arunning...er, to do Your work." The security staff are worried by the number of false alarms that ring as various spiritual entities with large wingspans fly around the smaller rooms plucking on harps, flinging invisible palm leaves, and crying out, "Hosannas."

And then there is the hot-line to God which is in danger of catching fire as St George calls in almost hourly for His latest orders although it seems there is some question as to whether He is getting the orders or giving them. Apparently negotiations are underway as to whether St George, after He swaggers up the Golden Stairway to a chorus gustily sung by the Southern Baptist Rapturist Choir, will sit on the right or the left hand of God. Or will eventually replace God!

Yes, friends, the secular state, even if it's run by God-fearing, hymn-singing, small-minded, bigoted, religious zealots like St George and St Olmert and St Tony and St John, etc, is safe. Be assured, there is no possibility of overlap between deranged personal religious belief and rational political decision-making. Absolutely none. Where DID you get that silly idea from?

In response to the last entry (comments closed?!) and the comment you left on my blog:

If it wasn't for the fact that i think it is an evil art, i'd suggest you get into Politics to try and enact the changes that you desire. Blogging can only achieve so much on its own, as in the end, it's just a bunch of people complaining in cyberspace. If you combine blogging with real-life activism, then more can be achieved, by the Will of God. I saw an example of this a while back, where US bloggers were involved in elections for a particular Senator... i have to find the link for you. Basically, blogging can only make a difference when it is taken out of the blogosphere. Try it, and see what happens!

From "Information Clearing House"=The powerful have invoked God at their side in this war, so that we will accept their power and our weakness as something that has been established by divine plan. But there is no god behind this war other than the god of money, nor any right other than the desire for death and destruction. Today there is a "NO" which shall weaken the powerful and strengthen the weak: the "NO" to war.: Subcomandante Marcos - Source: No to war, 2/16/03

= "The vested interests - if we explain the situation by their influence - can only get the public to act as they wish by manipulating public opinion, by playing either upon the public's indifference, confusions, prejudices, pugnacities or fears. And the only way in which the power of the interests can be undermined and their maneuvers defeated is by bringing home to the public the danger of its indifference, the absurdity of its prejudices, or the hollowness of its fears; by showing that it is indifferent to danger where real danger exists; frightened by dangers which are nonexistent." Sir Norman Angell 1872 - 1967

="The ideal setup by the Party was something huge, terrible, and glittering - a world of steel and concrete, of monstrous machines and terrifying weapons - a nation of warriors and fanatics, marching forward in perfect unity, all thinking the same thoughts and shouting the same slogans, perpetually working, fighting, triumphing, persecuting - three hundred million people all with the same face." George Orwell, from the book 1984

="The individual is handicapped by coming face to face with a conspiracy so monstrous he cannot believe it exists" J. Edgar Hoover

=Patriotism in its simplest, clearest and most indubitable signification is nothing else but a means of obtaining for the rulers their ambitions and covetous desires, and for the ruled the abdication of human dignity, reason, conscience, and a slavish enthralment to those in power. Leo Toystoy

The Crusaders

"The Christian Taliban is Running the Department of Defense"

By Robert Koehler

Can you imagine a contingent of religious zealots, with their contempt for secular values (and such manifestations of secular order as the U.S. Constitution) - and with their zest for holy war - in control of the most potent fighting force and weaponry in human history? Is this possible? http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article17642.htm>>>>>True, true, true. As what you write, Daniel.